Course in Supply Chain Design and Procurement

In today’s competitive global markets, supply chains are the backbone of business continuity and growth, ensuring that products and services reach customers on time, at the right quality, and with optimal cost efficiency. With increasing complexity in international trade, rising customer expectations, and the need for flexibility, the stage of supply chain design and procurement has become a strategic priority for organizations striving to achieve operational excellence. This program, offered by the Geneva Institute of Business Administration, focuses on equipping participants with advanced knowledge and skills to design resilient supply chain networks and implement effective procurement practices that enhance competitiveness, improve efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Target Audience

• Supply chain and procurement managers who oversee planning, operations, and logistics and aim to strengthen their strategic capabilities.

• Professionals working in purchasing and procurement who want to broaden their knowledge of modern supply chain design and strategic sourcing practices.

• Engineers and planners in industrial and commercial companies who need to understand tools and techniques for optimizing supply chain networks.

• Consultants and analysts specializing in supply chain management who seek to refine their expertise in market-driven procurement and supply design.

• Executives and decision-makers responsible for shaping organizational strategies that secure sustainable, efficient, and competitive supply chain systems.

Objectives

• Provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical foundations of supply chain design that align with organizational needs and market demands.

• Introduce participants to modern procurement concepts and best practices that ensure smooth material and service flow while maintaining cost efficiency and flexibility.

• Enhance participants’ ability to identify risks and challenges within supply chains and apply effective methods to mitigate their impact on operations.

• Strengthen institutional capabilities in strategic supply planning by applying innovative tools and technologies that improve performance across the chain.

• Support participants in developing long-term perspectives that foster integration, sustainability, and continuous improvement across all supply chain stages.

Course Outline 

• Understanding Supply Chains and Their Strategic Dimensions

  • Definition and importance of supply chains in business environments.

  • The link between supply chains and organizational competitiveness.

  • Key components of modern supply chain systems.

  • Factors influencing supply chain design.

• Procurement as a Core Element of Supply Chains

  • Definition and role of procurement in ensuring continuity.

  • Differences between traditional and modern procurement approaches.

  • Main objectives of procurement management.

  • Challenges of procurement in global markets.

• Designing Supply Chain Networks

  • Principles of supply chain network design.

  • Criteria for selecting optimal warehouse and storage locations.

  • The role of distribution centers in network efficiency.

  • The impact of design decisions on cost reduction.

• Strategic Supply Planning

  • The concept of strategic planning in procurement.

  • Factors affecting strategic supply decisions.

  • The importance of demand forecasting in planning.

  • The role of technology in supporting strategic planning.

• Purchasing and Supplier Relationship Management

  • The role of purchasing within the supply chain.

  • Criteria for selecting reliable suppliers.

  • Strategies for building strong supplier partnerships.

  • Mechanisms for evaluating supplier performance.

• Material and Information Flow in the Supply Chain

  • The relationship between material flow and information flow.

  • Tools for managing information across networks.

  • Challenges arising from weak data flows.

  • How smooth flow improves overall performance.

• Risk Management in Supply Chains

  • Types of risks faced by supply chains.

  • Strategies to mitigate potential risks.

  • The importance of contingency and emergency planning.

  • Examples of how crises affect supply chain performance.

• Sustainability in Supply Chains

  • The concept of sustainability in supply chain management.

  • Environmentally friendly practices in procurement and logistics.

  • The role of corporate social responsibility in supply chains.

  • The link between sustainability and competitive advantage.

• Technology and Digital Transformation in Supply Chains

  • The role of information systems in improving efficiency.

  • Applications of AI and data analytics in procurement.

  • The impact of digitalization on responsiveness and integration.

  • Internet of Things (IoT) applications in supply chain operations.

• Supply Chain Performance Measurement

  • The concept and importance of performance indicators.

  • Key performance indicators (KPIs) in supply chain evaluation.

  • Methods for monitoring and analyzing performance regularly.

  • The connection between KPIs and continuous improvement.